Scene 21
PSYMOM: Nate. (He turns away with his nose in the air, his arms crossed tightly across his chest.) We meet again, I see.
NATE: Err...yes, so we do. Now then, the reason I'm here is because-
PSYMON: I don't care why you're here. You're not Zoe, so scram!
NATE: Much as I'd love to, I'm afraid I can't.
PSYMON: Oooh yeah, that's right. I forgot, you're a cop. Shit. (There is a long pause.) So...is this an interrogation?
NATE: Of sorts. I need you to tell me if you have any information regarding Moby and Allegra's whereabouts-
PSYMON: (He groans.) That again? I already told you, I don't know nothin'!
The door to Psymon's room abruptly opens, and a police officer steps in.
OFFICER: Is there a problem in here?
PSYMON: (He stands up straight and salutes the man.) No, sir! Everything's fine, sir!
OFFICER: (He glares icily at PSYMON.) You've got two minutes.
He exits the room, closing the door behind him.
NATE: As I was saying - Psymon?
PSYMON: (He is tilting back in his chair, staring up dreamily at the ceiling.) Oooooh. Such pretty lights…
NATE: Psymon, sit still, please. You heard what the officer just said. We've got two minutes. I need you to focus-
PSYMON: (He is still looking up at the lights.) Blah, blah, blah, that's all I hear coming out of your mouth right now.
NATE: Psymon-
PSYMON: That's Mr. Stark to you, pea-brain!
NATE: (He sighs, irritated.) Do you know where Moby and Allegra are?
PSYMON: (He freezes in his chair, though he continues to keep his eyes focused on the ceiling.)
NATE: Well?
PSYMON: (He snaps his head around to face NATE.) So what if I do?
NATE: Then I would appreciate it if you told me whatever it is you know. Now would be a good time.
PSYMON: (He taps a finger against his chin, as if thinking.) Hmm...
NATE: Psymon?
PSYMON: SILENCE! I'm weighing the pros and cons of the situation!
NATE: So you do know something?
PSYMON: Oh I know somethin' all right.
NATE: Then you have to tell me. This isn't a game-
PSYMON: Everything's a game for me!
NATE: PSYMON-
PSYMON: Your loud voice doesn't intimidate me, Officer.
NATE: (He closes his eyes and takes a long, deep breath.) All right. I can see we're going to have to do this the hard way.
PSYMON: (somewhat excitedly) Torture?
NATE: Not quite.
PSYMON: Aww, come on! What could be worse than torture?
NATE: If you don't tell me what you know right now, your time here may be increased by several months.
PSYMON: (He laughs.) Yeah, right.
NATE: I'm serious. If you continue to conceal critical information from the authorities, it is possible that your sentence will be prolonged. I know how it works, Psymon. So you'd might as well just tell me whatever it is you know.
PSYMON: And how would you prove to the "au-thor-ities" that this little talk of ours even happened?
NATE: I have a recording device in one of my pockets. It's been on throughout this entire conversation.
PSYMON: Oh yeah? Prove it!
NATE: Okay. (He reaches into an inner pocket of his jacket, and pulls out a small, black device.) It's still recording. See? (He holds the device up to the glass.)
PSYMON: (His eyes widen slightly.)
NATE: Care to share anything?
PSYMON: (He turns away, huffing.) All right, fine. Have it your way…
The scene shifts and we see an exterior view of the Metro City Justice Center. ELISE is pacing back and forth on the sidewalk in front of the building.
ELISE: (Seeing NATE exit the jail, she turns and rushes toward him.) That took much longer than it should have.
NATE: That's because I got him to crack.
ELISE: So he did know something after all...
NATE: Yes. I've got it all on recording. I'm heading over to the police station right now to show the captain. If Psymon's information is correct, the police will find Moby and Allegra in a matter of hours.
ELISE: Wait a minute. He was actually able to tell you right where they are?
NATE: Yes. Again, I don't know if his information can be trusted, but I think he was telling the truth.
ELISE: How do you figure?
NATE: Just a feeling I get.
ELISE: (She shakes her head.) What the hell ever happened to Psymon? I mean, how did he get so fucked up? Have you ever wondered?
NATE: I have. I must say, I've never met anyone quite like him. Not in all my life. He comes off as a moron, but he's really not. He's actually very intelligent.
ELISE: I don't know about that.
NATE: He is, Elise. In the most twisted of ways.
ELISE: Whatever you say. So where does he claim that Moby's keeping Allegra? And was it actually a kidnapping, or is Griff right? Are they...involved with each other?
NATE: (He sighs.) According to Psymon, Moby is more than likely staying with his sister, Cassie. Seems we may have been heading in the right direction with that idea after all.
The scene setting shifts to Cassie's house, where MOBY and ALLEGRA are arguing in the kitchen.
ALLEGRA: Way to go. Now Zoe's gonna kill me. And to think, I was so excited to start my second season in SSX...
MOBY: She ain't gonna kill you. Not on my watch.
ALLEGRA: Whatever, dude. You would never fight her.
MOBY: If she came after you, you bet your sweet ass I would.
ALLEGRA: I don't buy it. You're afraid to stand up to her.
MOBY: You know, I'm surprised you're even entertaining the idea that she could kill you.
ALLEGRA: Don't change the subject. But now that you mention it...you're right. I'd beat the shit out of her if she came anywhere near me.
MOBY: That's the spirit. And I wasn't changing the subject. I was just saying.
There is a brief pause.
ALLEGRA: So what's the story with you and her, anyway? Not sure if everything Cassie said earlier is accurate, but I'm willing to bet there's at least some truth to it.
MOBY: (He sighs heavily.) Damn that Cassie. Always meddling in me personal life...
ALLEGRA: Moby. Did you or didn't you ever date Zoe?
MOBY: Er...yes? No? I mean, not really-
ALLEGRA: So it was a friends with benefits sort of arrangement?
MOBY: I mean, I wanted to date her when we first met. So when the Tricky tour came 'round, I proposed we start a relationship. Told me she'd been waiting a whole year for me to ask her out. So we did. A coupla months in, though, I started to realize that there was no way in hell it was gonna work.
ALLEGRA: Why not?
MOBY: Eh. Zoe is a great gal, don't get me wrong. But...well, I think she's a bit more suited for somebody like Psymon.
ALLEGRA: So you dumped her. I figure she didn't take it well.
MOBY: I broke it to her real nice, said that I thought she was a swell person but that I just didn't see us working out as a couple. At least, not long-term. And...well, she acted like she was cool with it at first, but I could tell she was pissed.
ALLEGRA: I think I remember reading something in the tabloids last year about how you and her weren't friends anymore. There was some ridiculous gossip blurb about how you dumped her for Elise-
MOBY: Yeah, no, that shit was totally false. I've never so much as looked Elise's way, and she wouldn't touch me with a ten foot pole if her life depended on it.
ALLEGRA: But the part about you and Zoe being on the outs was true.
MOBY: Oh yeah. That was true all right.
ALLEGRA: So what happened? She just...got over it?
MOBY: Eventually. Decided bein' friends with me was better than nothin' at all. I think Cassie's right, though. I think deep down she still hates me guts.
ALLEGRA: And now she hates me because she thinks you've got a thing for me.
MOBY: Er...yeah. I guess so.
ALLEGRA: So do you?
MOBY blinks at her, looking speechless.
ALLEGRA: You can tell me. I'm not gonna get all weird or anything if-
Enter CASSIE.
CASSIE: So are you two gonna stay here all night, or what?
MOBY: (He growls.) Damn it, Cassie-
CASSIE: This is my house, little brother, and in case you've failed to notice, it's almost 10 o'clock. At least give me the courtesy of letting me know if you'll be staying the night or not.
MOBY: (He sighs.) We'll head back to Metro City now, then.
The scene setting shifts to downtown Metro City, where ZOE is seen fumbling for her keys outside her apartment. It is raining heavily. She drops the keys on the ground, cursing.
ZOE: Aw, son of a bitch.
She drops to her knees and begins patting the ground, looking for the keys. She finds them, and is about to stand up when a voice behind her speaks.
OFFICER: Hello, Miss Payne, my name is Officer Mac Ramsey. If you don't mind, I'd like for you to come downtown to the station with me and answer a few questions
ZOE: (She groans, and turns slowly around to face the officer.)